Container closure member having a dispensing valve therein



D. MICHEL sept. 3o, 1952 CONTAINER CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A DISPENSING VALVE THEREIN Filed Jan. 2l, 1949 lv. SSNSNNK lex s A L.

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INVENTOR. Dalziel llzc/ze Patented Sept. 30, 1952 ATENT OFFICE l CON TAINER,` CLOSURE MEMBER HAVING A DISPENSING VALVE THEREIN Daniel Michel, chicago, nl. n Application January 2l, 1949, Serial No. 71,853

This invention relates in general to dispensing means, and more particularly, to a simple and inexpensive throw-away device for dispensing liquids, powders and the like'by gas retained under pressure. i

A principal object of this invention is the provision of an improved valve means through which a container on Which the Valve means is mounted may be charged With gas under pressure, and through which the gas-charged product may subsequently be dispensed from the container, said valve means being effective-for` the purpose described, yet at the same time, being so simple and inexpensive that it may be discarded with the container after the latter has been emptied. l

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel, sanitary, protective cover for the valve means. In this connection, a specific object is the provision of thecombinaton of `a closure memberlfor the container `having permanently mounted thereon vmanually manipulable valve means and having removably mounted thereon a sanitary, protective cover, the latter comprising aghousing having an open end denedby a pair of annularly spaced skirts adapted to embrace, respectively, inner and outer edges of an upstanding bead formation on the closure member. f

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with `the gures of the drawings in which:

Figure l is avertical, sectional-vievvof the upper or mouth'portionoia container equipped with the improved, valve and protective cover means, the valve means being shown in its normally closed position and the covery means .being shown as it would be v.assembled on the container to protect both the valve and thev closure member duringv handlingv and storage;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional viewy similar to that of Fig. 1 showing thefcontainer Without the protective cover means andshowing the dispensing valve as being deflected to open position; Y. m

Fig. 3 is a verticahsectional vview of the protective cover; l

Fig. 4 is a bottom or open end-view of `protective cover shown lin Figs. 1 and 3;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the* valve means showing how it may be used Witha vacuumor pressure-applying lance to extract airkfrom the container or charge gas into vthe container;` l

6 Claims. '(Cl. Z22-1182)v Fig. 6 is an outside elevational view of the protective cover;

Fig. '7 is a view, similar to Fig. 1 but without the protectiver cover, of a modified form of .the invention; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the valve shownin Fig. '7 taken substantially on line 1 1 of that gure.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the container, generally designated and which is only partially shown, is here illustrated as of the conventional seamless type which is more fully shown and described in my co-pending application. Serial No. 51,725, filed September 29, 1948 and Slater abandoned. It Will be understood that the present invention is adaptable for use with many other specific types lof containers, including, for example, the common cylindrical, lap-soldered tin can. The upper portion of the container is formed With a mouth oropening dened by a peripherally extending standing,

Within that aperture is pressed a resilient body` bead I2. A closure |3, more specifically described in my above mentioned co-pending application, is clinched within the opening defined bythe bead |2 and itself presents an upstand-- ing bead I4-def`1ned by inner and outer Walls I6 and (see Fig. 2), respectively.

At. the center of the closure member |3 there is provided an aperture I8 defined by an upsubstantially cylindrical Wall I9.

rior end portion an enlarged chamber `26 in alignment and communication with the bore 24. The extreme inner end of' the body 2| is formed with a frusta-conical valve-seating surface 2l which is also axially aligned with the bore 24. A tubular member 28 of metal or plastic material is embraced Within the bodybore 24. At its inner end it carries a valve 29 having a frusta-conical surface3| engageable vwith the valve seat 21; at its other end is a reduced diameter section 32 which extends inwardlyl to the shoulder 33. Passage means, which inA this instance constitutes four radial openings 34- formed in the tubular member or valve stem in line with the enlarged chamber '26, provides a communication between that chamber and the interior of the member 28.

with a 1ongitudina11y of the body 2|, the shoulder 33 serving as a stop to fix the assembled position of the member-"36;

The shoulder 33 is so positioned. upon the. stem.

28, and the body 2l is so dimensioned with re- The inwardly facing end surface; 38: ofA thedispensing nozzle abuts the outer endisurface39'r spect to the latter, that when the parts are as sembled, as shown, the resilient body will be placed. under compression. between` the,y valve, 29 and the nozzle end surface 38. The; lattensurface.is.thus,1.in eifect,` afan-ge for; initially compressing the resilient. body so .astot'urge.f..tl1'e.v valve 29 to its normally seated position:- against. the:

inner surface 21;..

Another feature: of the dispensing. nozzle. i-isa that it is provided with an inwardly extending peripheral skirt. El which closely embraces; the peripheral" surface 62?. of" the nuten.l reduced di.- ameter', endL portion 35ir of the. resilient. body', thereby maintaining .theva'lve-seating compres.- sion of the body. The'en'dili of the-s1d1t4lbears. aga-instv4 ther outer flange 235 of' the. resilient'. body thereby facilitating opening-the. valve1 with a;

minimum. of displacementv byl causing: it; to. tilt aboutv afulcrum. point' (designated A- in` Figs.. 1. andv 2) remote from' the outer end-.of the body. The .outer flange isnormally compressed between the sk-irtend EBand' the closurernemberwallf l29` to yhelp maintain-r the valve: 29. urged'. to a` closed position.

Another importantl advantage of' the dispensing nozzle constructionlsliown islthat an annular space 43* is provided" betweenthe extreme outer tip portion of the stem 2i8 and'tlieextreme inner portion of the nozzle bore 44. *This` facilitates drawing the ai'r fromV thecontai'nerand* rechargingit with a selected gas under@ pressure by use of a lance such asindicated'at lll'in Fig. 5. The lance i6- compri'ses-a long,- narrow tube connectedV atl one end to a vacuum; or suitable gas-pressure, source. A-t itsinner or opposite end it is provided with a fixedE 'ange l'-forwarclfA of which is assembled; a resilient rubber-like gasket 28- When: the-y lance is pressed into the outer 'endl ofthel tube 28, as shown in Fig. 5, the resilient gasket d'8 is forced' partiallyv down into-"theannular space 43 and at the same time is" caused tolend itself flexibly to the adjacent portion of'bore llll therev by forming a positive gas or' vacuum seal duringV the vacuumizing or gas-charging step- The tip of the nozzle-3S `may vbe castellated as shown at 45 to impart a special eiect or pattern tothe dispensed product-if desired'.

Another importantL feature ofVA this inventionr resides in. the; l protective cover, generallydesignatedi 49,. which. servesthe d'ual function of Co)- protecting.` the. valve against. accidental. tilting anch consequent dischargeof; the. container contents., and:A (b) protecting the.'Y valve and the entirav container closure.: member I3 against.'- the ac.- cumulation of.` soil during transport and storage..

Thislatter point is of considerable importance 75 in the dispensing of food products.

The cover 49 is made preferably of a plastic material such as polymerized cellulose acetate and is also part of the throw-away assembly, being discardable with the container when the latter is empty. It is generally cup shaped with its external surface knurled as at 59 to facilitate handling, and having an opening or mouth defined by an inner skirt 5I and an outer skirt 52, the skirts having: an annular space 53 therebetween. As shownl in Fig. 1' the inner and outer skirts normally embrace the inner and outer surfaces I6 and l1, respectively, of the closure member bead-formation i4. Preferably, one of theskirtsshould be formed so as to be resilient as well as frictionally engageable with its corresponding bead surface. In the present instance the. inner.- bead 5l is.- formed with a plurality (in this case three) of longitudinally extending slits 54 to impart to it the desired resilience, and as shown in Figs. 1 and 4, it;is formed With a pluralityonexternal: ribsa. which; are frictionally engageablelwith the: corresponding bead surface I6 to; hold.. the cover in: placer Minor manufacturing variationsbetween; the.l inner surface I5 of the flange and the skirt 5| will be taken up-.by variable flexing. of; the. latter' when assembled. Obvi'ously,l it is f ai. relatively simplev job. to pull the cover'olf on tof presse. it into place when desired.

Oneaof; the? important advantagesA of. this inventiorr .resides inT the: easerwithwhich it may be assembled; yet; will.. retains. the. pressures of up to- 20,0 poundszperrsquare inchy utilizedin gasifying orV aerating'; cream; andlikerfood products. By constructingtthe nozzl'esS as: a; separate piece (instead oft integral with the; valve; stern, as. illustrated, for example, by Card Patent 1,869,049 issued; July: 26,.1933r).=` Icanemploy a. rubber body 2f|1 of. very: great'. strength and firmness and still readily.- assemble: t by rst. inserting theY stem within bore:` 2R: followed pressingi thenozzle- 35 homei onithefreduced; stem section 32. By'contrast, the nearest prior art structure such as illustratedK bythe above-mentioned' Card patent is necessarilyV limited. to:.usefof' arelative'ly soft rub- ."bensdasto permit. assembly by forcing the enlarged, integral outer tip portion through it. Such'. relatively weaker rubber'is. inherently less pressure-ret'enti'ye-'than I can use and cannot be safely applied to the dispensing of gas-chargedv mixturesatpressuresas high as 2'00' pounds per square inch;

The: manufacturer Whopackages a product such as cream, paint, insecticide, or the like, in a discardable tin can employingA a valve and protective cover according to the' present invention, will" generally receive the can from the supplier inI three separate-'subassemblies comprising, (a) the can-body,A (17)' the valve means including the closure l'3, y tubular'member, resilient body 2| and nozzle/36; andi (c) the cover 49. For example, a dai-ry marketing aerate'd; cream. in such containers will carry out the.. finalv assembly and packaging operations as' follows: cream will be poured intofthe container through the opening de'ned by the' beadv I2r following which the closure I3 will be applied and clinched in place. Then a hollowneedle orlance such as designated :at 46 in Fig. 5 and which is connected to a Vacuumsourcewill be pressed into the'nozzle bore ,44 against the; endoftube 28 with suiicient force to... depress the Iatterfinwardl'y therebyy opening thevalve29. When theairfis- Withdrawn from the; interior the;v can, another similar hollow needletor lance-,connected toa source of aerated gas under pressure, will be similarly inserted into the bore 44 and the can charged with a suitable quantity of gas following which the container will usually be shaken for a predetermined number of times to complete the solution` of gas in the cream. The vprotective 'cover 49 is then pressed into place and the packaged aerated cream is ready for delivery to the ultimate consumer.

When the consumer' receives the above-mentioned device, iilled as described, he may have a whipped-cream-like product at the touch of hisl iinger simply'by removing the cover 49, inverting the can and tilting the valve to its open position as shown in Fig. 2.

While a modified form of valve means is illustrated inV Fig. 7, it is similar in many respects to that disclosed in Fig. 1. It will be preferred for certain highly competitive products becausey `it can be made somewhat cheaper "since it avoids and outer flanges |22 and |23, respectively, which 'i grip the Wall H9 therebetween. So far, the description of the body |2| isthe sam-e as the body 2| previously described. The bore |24 varies from that disclosed in the body 2| in that it is a simple, straight-through bore, with no enlargement except for the frusto-conical valve seatingsurface |21. A solid stem orrivet |28 extends through the bore |24 and is undersized relative to that bore to provide an annular transfer passage or chamber |28 therebetween. The stem or rivet |28v will preferably be made of metal, such as alumimirn or some readily deformable plastic material. At its inner end the stern |28 carries a valve |29 having a frusto-conical surface |3| engageable with the valve seat |21. The opposite or outer end portion of the stem extends beyond 1 the outer end ofthe body 12|.

The resilient body is provided with an outer extension |45 of reduced diameter relative to that of the outer ange |23.

. v the resilient body also serves the function of sealingv the outer end of the chamber |26 at the interface ISB- |39 to prevent the loss of the product:

being dispensed. It will be noted, also, that an annular space |43 is provided between the ex-l treme outer tipportion of the stem |28 and the extreme inner portion ofthe nozzle bore |44. This annular space corresponds to that designated 43 in Fig. 5, and functions similarly to facilitate vacuumizing and pressurizing of the container.`

In use, the valve embodiment shown in Fig. 7

vfunctions in the ysame way as that described for the previous embodiment, that is, the consumer simply inverts the can which carries the valve, presses the nozzle |36 to lone side, causing it to tilt about the fulcrum located at A'. This kcauses the valve |29 to be tilted away from one side of the seat |21, permittin'gthe contents of the container to be discharged past the valve |29, throughfthe transfer passage or chamber |26, through the passage means |46, and out of the bore |44.

While particular forms of the present invention have been shown, it will be apparent that minor changes therein will readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from-the spirit and scope of the invention.

rI claim:

l. In combination, a container for containing a uid product under pressure, said container having an opening, a closure for said container opening having a second opening therethrough, a valve for controllingy the flow of saidproduct fromV said container through said second opening, said container and said closure comprising. an assembly having an endless bead encircling said valve, said closure having a recessdirectedr j inwardly of said container immediately adjacent Y. and internally recessed to v'receive said nozzle A tubular dispensing nozzle, generally desig'- nated |36, is formed witha bore |44 having an inner shoulder or flange |44a. The parts willbe assembled by first pressing the resilient body 12| in place then inserting the 'stein 4|23 from the inner side, and mounting the dispensing tube "l 36 on the outer side with the outer vend portionr of the stem inserted beyond the shoulder |'44a and peened or enlarged as shown at |45 (Fig. 7);

Passage means, generally designated |45, is

provided between the tube |36 andthe stem |28 at the outlet end of the chamber |26 to provide communication between said chamber andthe dispensing nozzle. In this specific instance, the

when so attached to'said bead, said cover including an outer apron and a resilient inner member deiining an annular channel for receiving'said ,bead and for securing said cover to said bead,1said recess being of such depth as to permit secure en-v gagement ofthe radially inner surface of said bead by said resilient inner member of said coverand being of such scope as to permit tilting of said nozzle y and said valve stem to open said valve, said chan-y nel being' of such width that said outer apron may substantially engage the radially outer surface of said bead.

' 2. In combination, a container for containing a fluid product under pressure, said container havling an opening, a closure for said container openpassage means comprises laplu'rality of axially'` extending fiuted openings |41v formed in the,

nozzle |36. Obviously, if desired; such openings the stem |28.

The inwardly facing surface |39 of the dispensing nozzle comprises, in eect, a ange engageable with the outer extreme end portion |39 of the resilient body. Likewise, the peripheral ing having a second opening therethrough, a valve for controlling the flow of said product from said might be formed, in part, or intheir entirety, in"y 1 container through said second opening, said con- A .tainer' and said closure comprising an assembly having an endless bead encircling said valve, said closure having a recess directed inward-1y of vsaid container immediately adjacent said bead, an elongated nozzle for guiding the flow of said prod-l uctfrom saidl container, said nozzle `extending outwardlyv away from said container vand being operatively connected to said valve whereby a p y.small lateral force against the free end of said nozzle causes said valve to open, and a cover removably' attachable. to. said, bead, and. internally" recessed` to receive said4 nozzle .when so "attached, to saidzbead, said; cover including anouter apron` and an inner apron defihi'ngfan annular'channel for receiving' said bead and fori securingsaidi cover toe'said bead. said-inner. apron beingislitf' toprovide resilient gripping of vsaid bead; saidre.-

cess. being of such. depthas to permitl secure en gagementl of. the. radially inner .surface of said bead by said' resilient inner member o1?` said coizer and being of such scope as to permit tilting. ofY- said; nozzle ,anda saidvalve. stem to. open'. said;V valve,

said; channel beingfofsuclr width that"v salidaouter Y productzfrom saidrjcontainer through said open-v ing, said-1 valve; and nozzle; mechanism including a` resilient tubular plug securedto: thefedges ofsaid container dening said opening, said resilient:

plug. having an. axial opening therethrough and4 a valveseat. at the. inner end ther'eot` and contiguous: tolthefinner endcoi said axial opening; a rela-` tivelyH rigid valve stem. extending through saidv openingin' said'fplug, said valve stem extending outwardly beyond said resilient plug and having at itsinner end a valve member for cooperating with said valveseat, and a relatively rigid nozzle surrounding the.- outer end portion of said valve stem anden-gauging; the. outer surface of said resilient. plug and having a. skirt portion encircling and; engaging a portion. offv the sides of said re`- silient plug, said nozzle being connected to the' cuter-endA portion of. said valve stem in such manner as to. permit compression of. said resilient plug between said nozzle and'. saidvalve member and to permitV lateral movement of said valve stem by said nozzle.

4. In'combination, a container; for containing a fluid product, under pressure, said container having an opening, and a valvev and nozzle mechanism for controlling and guidingM the iiow of said product from said container through said opening, said valve and nozzle mechanism including a' resilient tubular plug secured to the edges .of said container deningsaid opening, said resilient plug having an axial openingtherethrough and a valve seat at the inner end thereof and contiguous'to the inner end of. said axial opening, a relatively rigid valve stem. extendingthrough said opening in said plug, said valve stem extending outwardly beyond said resilient plug and having at its.` inner end a valve member for cooperating withr` said valve seat, and a relatively rigid nozzle surroundl ing and secured to the outer end of said valve stem, said nozzle engaging the outer surface of circling; and engaging a portion of the sides of said resilient plug, said resilient plug being. conl-A pressed between said nozzle and said valve mein-v bel; Y

l5. In combination,a container for containing a iluid product under pressure, said container having an openingand a valve and nozzle .mecha- `container. defining; said. opening, said resilient plug:K having an. axiall opening therethrough. and a valve seat; atr the; inner: endf'thereof and con.-l tiguous to the,l innerend or said axial opening,I a relatively-rigid valve stem extending through said ,f opening in'. said plug. said. val-ve stem. extending outwardly;y beyond, said resilient plug and having atv its inner; end a valve-member Vfor cooperating with said valve seat, and a relatively rigid nozzle surrounding and secured tothe outer-end of said 1 valve,- stem,b said, nozzle: engaging the outer surface of. saidresilientplug and having a skirt por.- tionencircling andengaginga` portion of the sides of said resilient plug,I said resilient; plug beingv compressed betweenV saidvv nozzle' and said.. valve member;y

6. Avalve and. nozzle mechanism` for controllingv and guiding, the flowv ofv a iluid product throughanopeningzirra container for containing such iluid. product under pressure,l said valve.; andv nozzle mechanism including a resilient tubular plug securalole to. the edges of, said container'delining,` said opening.. said. resilient. plug having an axial. openingf therethrough: and; a; valve seat at the inner end thereoi andoontiguoustothe inner. endxof said axial opening, a. relatively rigid, valve stem extending through said; opening said plug,

said. valve stem extending4 outwardly beyond. said resilient plug and having.; at; its inner.- endl a. valve member for cpoperating; with said. valve.- seat', andY a.. relatively rigid nozzle. surrounding and secured.

to theouter end of. saldi valve: stern. said nozzle engaging. the outervsurface. of said resilient; plug and having: aV skirt. portion'. encircling andV enga-g:-

ing aportion` of the; sides of said resilient. plug. said. resilientv plug being compressed between said nozzles and said Valve member.

DANIEL MICHEL.

REFERENCES CITED:

The following referencesA are of' record in the iii'e of this patent:

UNITED STATESy PATENTS Number y Name4 Date 636,226 Halvorson ,Oct..31, 1899 1,307,947 I Williams: June24, 1919 1,469,646 Rowland Got. 2,1923 1,704,286 l Franklinv Mar. 51929 1,864,978- Cottrell June 28;, 1932i 1,869,049 Card July, 26, 1932 1,926,186 Wilson Sept. 12 19331 1,948,953.: Wayer. et, al. Feb; 27,1934 2,004,018-` Straus June 41, 1935 2,111,186 Jenkse Mar, 1.5il 193,8 2,149,584 Davis Mar; 7,193.9 2,164,816V Harris. July/1,1939 2,170,720 Kestenbaunr .Aug. 22; 1939 2,235,224 Rashknd ;Mal'; 25, 1941 l 2,376,404 Thorns May 22,191.45 2,487,434 Geiss.v et alf. Nov; 8,1949- .2,543,850 Henricson Mar. 6,v 1951 2,582,262 Loven et al Jana 15195'2' 

